Born in Ottawa, Ontario, it was almost expected that Kilby MacDonald grew up playing hockey. In his early years – prior to the NHL – MacDonald was an offensively gifted player who continually produced at every level.
Early on, MacDonald kicked off his hockey career with the Ottawa Jr. Montagnards in 1930-31. At the time, the team was part of the OCJHL. From there, he played parts of two seasons in the GBHL with the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils and Noranda Copper Kings from 1934 to 1936. It was there, that he began to solidify himself as an offensive threat, helping the Copper Kings to an Allan Cup in 1935-36 with five points in just two games.
His league-jumping continued in 1936-37 where he played for the New York Rovers of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL) and earned himself a First-Team All-Star nod. Then again, in 1937-38 he joined the Philadelphia Ramblers of the International-American Hockey League (IAHL) where he was also named a First-Team All-Star in his second season with the team in 1938-39. That season, he finished with 18 goals and 55 points in 49 games played.
It was then that he finally made it to the NHL, signing with he New York Rangers ahead of the 1939-40 season – a career that would be interrupted by stints in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the army and lasting just four seasons overall. That said, it was a career that would be remembered – if not for anything else, for his run offensively in his rookie season with the Rangers that led to him winning the Calder Trophy in 1939-40.
Kilby MacDonald’s Calder Run
After signing with the Rangers, MacDonald debuted for the team on Nov. 5, 1939, against the Detroit Red Wings. He was held pointless which became a storyline to start his NHL career. His Rangers wouldn’t get their first win until the sixth game of the season, while MacDonald was held without a point through the first seven games of his rookie campaign.
In game eight though, MacDonald finally broke through and didn’t look back on his run to the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. His first point in the NHL was a goal in a 1-1 tie against the New York Americans. He followed that up with a two point game and would be held pointless just three more times through the team’s next 10 games.
Both MacDonald and the Rangers escaped their slow start to the season as the Rangers would finish with a 26-9-10 record and MacDonald would finish the season with 15 goals and 28 points in 45 games. It would end up being the most productive season of his career and, rightfully so, earn him the Calder Trophy honours.
Related: Revisiting Calder Trophy Seasons Collection
At the time, he became the third 25-year-old to win the rookie of the year honours, joining Carl Voss and Russ Blinco as the oldest players to win the award through its first eight years of existence.
MacDonald defeated Toronto Maple Leafs’ 20-year-old rookie Wally Stanowski, who was also up for the award, as Stanowski finished with nine points as a defenceman.
Kilby MacDonald’s Career Was Short, But Silver
The Calder Trophy wasn’t the only award that MacDonald enjoyed during his rookie season. As a member of the Rangers, MacDonald also helped the team win the coveted Stanley Cup in 1939-40 as a rookie. He had just two goals through 12 games in the playoffs, but the Rangers were able to top the Boston Bruins followed by the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final to earn hockey’s most prized possession.
MacDonald’s career took a small turn from that point on. He followed up his rookie campaign with 11 points in 47 games in 1940-41 before the Rangers traded him to the AHL’s Hershey Bears for cash in 1941-42. From there, he played for both the Bears and the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL during that season and in 1942 he joined the Canadian Army and continued to play for the Montreal Army until 1944.
Related: Revisiting Calder Trophy Seasons – Frank Brimsek’s 1938-39 Season
Upon returning, he joined the Rangers for parts of two more seasons scoring 16 points in 24 games in 1943-44 and another 15 points in 36 games in 1944-45. That spelt the end of MacDonald’s NHL career as he closed out his playing days with the Hull Volants of the Québec Senior Hockey League, retiring after the 1945-46 season.
Overall, he had a pretty productive NHL career with 36 goals and 70 points in just 152 games, however, it was his Stanley Cup and his Calder Trophy that MacDonald will be remembered for.
Kilby MacDonald Still A Name Within Rangers’ History
In music, we might call it a one-hit wonder. In hockey, however, a player’s numbers go down in history regardless of how long they played. Take MacDonald, for example, although he only played parts of four seasons with the Rangers broken up over a six-year span he remains a name inside the Rangers’ history book.
His 152 games played for the Rangers during the regular season still has him within the Rangers’ top-250 all-time. He still ranks amongst the team’s top-200 in points all-time as well.
So, while James ‘Kilby’ MacDonald might not be the most recognized name in Rangers’ history, he still holds a place as a key member of the organization. He’s one that has his name on the Cup and one that will forever be remembered for his remarkable Calder Trophy season in 1939-40.
